Makii – De Plasklas: a thoughtful picture book with social impact
Makii is a Rotterdam-based design studio with a clear mission: to inspire children to play, explore, and use their imagination. Their collection – from wooden toys to temporary tattoos and metre-long colouring posters – is designed to spark creativity and collaboration.
For De Plasklas, Makii once again partnered with Dex with one shared goal: to create a pedagogically sound and sustainably produced picture book that resonates with both children and adults. The concept and educational method behind De Plasklas were developed by Ready for Potty, after which Makii translated it into a playful and well-thought-out book in close collaboration with them.
Part of a complete potty training programme
De Plasklas is not a stand-alone product. It’s part of a broader potty training programme that helps young children transition from diapers to the toilet. The full training package includes the book, a companion app with exercises and explainer videos, printable progress posters for home use, and access to live Q&A sessions with child development professionals. Developed with parenting experts, the materials are used in homes, daycares, and municipal initiatives across the Netherlands.
The book focuses on familiar, relatable situations and playful activities, featuring cheerful illustrations that make the topic approachable without being preachy. The tone is light and encouraging – just what young children and their parents need.
Our role: from paper advice to quality control
Makii asked Dex to handle the production of the book. We advised on materials, size, finish, and binding – all with one goal in mind: to create a sturdy, sustainable product that can handle repeated use. Since the content is pedagogically sound, the execution had to match.
We chose a finish that’s durable, materials with a pleasant feel, and a binding method that makes the book easy to open and lay flat. And as we always do when possible, we produced it locally. That not only reduces transport emissions, but also ensures better oversight and faster communication throughout the process.
Proven impact
The book is part of a campaign across sixteen municipalities in South Limburg and has already gone through four print runs. De Plasklas received national media attention, including a segment on RTL Nieuws, and is now available in libraries and as a take-home package for parents in other regions as well.
A collaboration that makes sense
Makii stands for creativity with a message. With De Plasklas, they bring an important topic into the spotlight in a positive and accessible way. We’re proud to have supported this project as creators of communication – contributing to a publication that not only looks good, but truly makes a difference for families across the Netherlands.
We are Dex. Creators of communication.
